You'll be hunting the east side of the Cascades, but more in central or west/central Washington State. The deer are Mulies, and they grow some really nice racks in that area. While there are some resident elk in that area, the majority of the elk hunted there come down off the cascade range once winter comes in earnest in the higher elevations. The hunting season is pretty liberal on the elk, as the game department tries to keep them somewhat thinned out to keep them out of the fruit orchards and vineyards down below in the valley.

Perhaps the most productive hunts for that area, at least the folks that I know anyhow, are for the late muzzleloader seasons for those gmu's.

You'll be hunting the east side of the Cascades, but more in central or west/central Washington State. The deer are Mulies, and they grow some really nice racks in that area. While there are some resident elk in that area, the majority of the elk hunted there come down off the cascade range once winter comes in earnest in the higher elevations. The hunting season is pretty liberal on the elk, as the game department tries to keep them somewhat thinned out to keep them out of the fruit orchards and vineyards down below in the valley.

Perhaps the most productive hunts for that area, at least the folks that I know anyhow, are for the late muzzleloader seasons for those gmu's.

You're in for a memory making adventure!

God bless,

Marshall
The later muzzleloader seasons have been cut out in our area .
I live about 10 miles east of the town of Naches . Hunting has been pretty sparse in the last couple of years . Hot and dry weather up until late I can't say how the modern rifle hunters did this year ( I hunt flintlock muzzleloader) . our muzzleloader season is the first half of October, 7-13 this year .

I've hunted that area for years (Nile unit) and have taken elk in the modern rifle season. Didn't hunt the area this year, but in general, populations seem to be down...due to cougars, bear or the weather...don't know for sure.

The area is heavily hunted by west siders and the season is short, the first week of Nov. Always seems to be too late for the rut and too early for the snow to have pushed the big herds down from the flanks of Rainier. There's forest service roads everywhere, so packing a critter out i(or getting lost) is usually not a problem.

Unless you enter the drawing and draw a cow tag, or an any bull, you'll be limited to spikes.

If you're the hardy type you might want to go further west towards Bumping lake. It's higher and harder to hunt.

I see mulies up there when I camp during the summer, but they're scarce during deer season. Most guys go up during deer season to set up camp, but are really there to prepare to hunt elk a few weeks later.

There's a numer of game units. Nile, Bumping, Rimrock that lie on boths sides of Bethel ridge. There's more. YOu can get plenty of info off the WSDFW web site about units, boundaries and harvest info.

I've been looking at some maps, trying to vector on where exactly my buddy is talking about. I see the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest land......is there better hunting north or south of the Naches River (Hwy 410)?

I've been looking at some maps, trying to vector on where exactly my buddy is talking about. I see the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest land......is there better hunting north or south of the Naches River (Hwy 410)?

I think much of the land north of the river down towards Naches is closed to mule deer hunting. At least it was few years ago.

As for elk, I really don't know. We had camp set up in the same spot each year in the Nile unit and never went north of the river to hunt. You might call the WDFW. THey are real helpful and can give you the latest info.

I have heard the terrain gets pretty tough in the Teanaway unit north of 410.

I think much of the land north of the river down towards Naches is closed to mule deer hunting. At least it was few years ago.

As for elk, I really don't know. We had camp set up in the same spot each year in the Nile unit and never went north of the river to hunt. You might call the WDFW. THey are real helpful and can give you the latest info.

I have heard the terrain gets pretty tough in the Teanaway unit north of 410.

The Teanaway unit is north of Hiway I 90 these lots of country between 410 and I 90 . I have been over most of it Horse back .
Are you looking at the Game Dept Unit map ? You can Get the Yakima County Recreation Guide from the forest service at Naches . It has the unit numbers and all marked out on it , Its a lot better .346,466,340,356,352 ,342 units in the area.

The Teanaway unit is north of Hiway I 90 these lots of country between 410 and I 90 . I have been over most of it Horse back .
Are you looking at the Game Dept Unit map ? You can Get the Yakima County Recreation Guide from the forest service at Naches . It has the unit numbers and all marked out on it , Its a lot better .346,466,340,356,352 ,342 units in the area.

Yea...was going from memory..CRS. Meant to say Umtaneum unit, or some such goofy name.

Yea...was going from memory..CRS. Meant to say Umtaneum unit, or some such goofy name.

Not a problem if I went from memory this page would be blank .Most of the time .
I hunt the Umtaneum unit ,as well as the Manashtash unit a lot as I live about 5 minutes from the lower gate to the LT Murray game range. Get to watch Elk from the back door all winter , most years .
Slenk

Not a problem if I went from memory this page would be blank .Most of the time .
I hunt the Umtaneum unit ,as well as the Manashtash unit a lot as I live about 5 minutes from the lower gate to the LT Murray game range. Get to watch Elk from the back door all winter , most years .
Slenk

That's cool! About 5 years ago I saw an old mountain goat roaming that area. Have you seen him? Hope he's still around.

Have they opened the units up for Mulies yet? I love that country and the big, open meadows at the top of the ridges.

That's cool! About 5 years ago I saw an old mountain goat roaming that area. Have you seen him? Hope he's still around.

Have they opened the units up for Mulies yet? I love that country and the big, open meadows at the top of the ridges.

Have not seen the Goat for a while . Last I saw him he was at the forks of the hiway 12 and 410 above Naches .
Yes we can hunt Muley's now again 3pt min.
Not too many around . We are also getting quit afew Big Horned Sheep . You can drive up the Yakima River Canyon to Ellensburg , and sometimes they will be right on the road or along side it .
We have some Pictures of them 20' from the car . Also can see them from the house sometimes .With the spotting scope .
Slenk